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The move comes after travellers demanded transport services during the closing of schools and the Heroes holidays, when travellers usually face challenges and get stranded at bus termini.
Schools closed on Wednesday while the Heroes and Defence Forces Day holidays will be on 13 and 14 August.
In a statement on Tuesday, NRZ public relations manager Mr Fanuel Masikati said there would be no commuter train services in Bulawayo and Harare from 11 to 14 August as most people who use commuter trains would close for the Heroes holidays.
The service will resume after the holidays on Wednesday 15 August.
Mr Masikati, however, said the Bulawayo-Francistown passenger train service would run as normal.
He also said there would be additional trains operating from Harare to Bulawayo during the Heroes holidays.
“In addition to normal passenger train services, there will be special trains operated from Harare to Bulawayo on Thursday 9 August 2012, Bulawayo to Harare, Mutare to Harare and Bulawayo to Chiredzi on Friday 10 August 2012 as well as Chiredzi to Bulawayo on Saturday 11 August 2012 and Mutare to Harare on 14 August 2012.
“These trains have been availed to ferry holiday travellers and school children during the forthcoming holiday,” said Mr Masikati.
He said the move was meant to demonstrate the NRZ’s commitment towards the provision of alternative and affordable mode of transport to the travelling public.
“The NRZ is geared to ferry holiday travellers during the school closure and the Heroes holidays and I would like to appeal to our valued customers to book and buy tickets on time in order to avoid inconveniences.
“Passengers are also advised to use proper platform walkways instead of crossing underneath stationary trains as well as crossing railway lines since it is dangerous and people may risk being run over by shunting trains,” said Mr Masikati.
He also reminded members of the public that railway reserves were protected areas and thus people were prohibited from entering and crossing railway lines save for designated crossing points only.
Mr Masikati also expressed concern over gold panners who were tampering with the railways lines, endangering people’s lives.
“We have also observed with concern, dangerous attempts and practices by some gold panners who have resorted to digging gold along the railway lines as well as under the railway lines, a move which is highly dangerous and risky to the movement of both passenger and goods trains in the country.
“In another disturbing incident some people were caught stealing some steel structures at rail flyover bridges and ballast stones which support the rail track, a move which is disastrous and catastrophic. These acts of sabotage are strongly discouraged since they pose a danger to the movement of trains and the travelling public in the country,” he said.
Mr Masikati also discouraged people from lying and sitting on the railway lines, an act which, he said was dangerous to their lives.
Online Reporter